Filing rack or storage devices



INVENTOR. 49 nAvlo MEADE PEEBLES A TTORNE Y W5 P @MMM April 5, 1965 D. M. PEEBLl-:s 3,176,849

FILING RACK OR STORAGE DEVICES Filed Sept. 20. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. DAVID MEADE PEEBLES Wa P www, 4.

A TTORNE Y April s, 196s Filed Sept. 20, 1961 D. M. PEEBLES FILING RACK 0R STORAGE DEVICES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 sul n..

C) ww INVENTOR. 67 DAVID MEADE PEEBLES WMI [l 69 70 A TTORNEY Byfwuwi April 6, 1965 D. M. PEEBLES FILING RACK OR STORAGE DEVICES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 20, 1961 FIG 8G n n n0' 77% 1| ll Irll INVENTOR. DAVID MEADE PEEBLES FIG Il United States Patent "f 3,176,349 FILING RACK GR STRAGE DEVICES David Meade Peebles, 29312 Courtland Place NW.,

i Washington, HRC. Filed Sept. Ztl, 1961, Ser. No. 139,433 ll Claim. (Cl. 2li- 56) This invention relates to filing devices.

An object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive rugged and durable tiling rack or device for business tiles or other like material, and adapted to serve as a desk tile or as a file storage means in conjunction with a suitable storage box, tray or tle cabinet drawer.

Another important object is to provide a filing device of the mentioned chanacter which may accommodate papers and files of the `so-called letter-size and/or legalsize.

Still another object is to provide a tiling device of the mentioned character which utilizes a substantially unitary wire type rack body portion, together with novel tray or base means which serve to stabilize the nack body portion and to also aid in the proper positioning of tiles and papers placed in the device.

Another object is to provide a filing rack having novel and simplified handle means integral therewith to facilitate lifting the same and base or tray means which may be permanently or detachably secured to the body portion of the rack.

A further object is to provide tiling means of the abovementioned character which is highly economical to manufacture, easy to assemble and which is compact to facilitate shipment and stonage thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be lapparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals yare employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a tiling device or rack according to one preferred embodiment of the invention,

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating in detail the construction of one corner portion of the device or nack shown in FIGURE l,

FIGURE 3 is a further fragmentary perspective view of the filing rack placed within a storage box or drawer and having applied thereto index partition means, parts omitted,

FGURE 4 is a perspective View of a filing device or rack including a tray member according to a modification of the invention,

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the tray member shown in FlGURE 4,

FIGURES 6 and 7 are perspective views of modified bases or tray members for use in conjunction with the rack body portion shown in FIGURE 4,

FIGURE 8 isa further perspective View of a filing device according to another modification of the invention and including a permanently attached tray member and integral handle means,

FIGURE 8a is a fragmentary perspective view of a filing rack having a separately applied handle means,

FIGURE 9 is a penspective view of another modified form of filing rack including base stabilizing means, the rack being formed so as to be readily nestable with similar racks,

FIGURE lO is a fragmentary perspective view of one end portion of the rack shown in FIGURE 9 with a lifting handle means applied thereto,

FlGURE 1l is a similar view showing a modified form of lifting handle means,

3175,84@ Patented Apr. 6, 1955 ICC FIGURE l2 is a perspective view of a further modied form of lifting handle,

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary perspective view of socket means for the handle shown in FIGURE l2.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shown preferred embodiments of the invention, attention is directed first to FIGURES 1-3 of the drawings, wherein the numeral Ztl designates broadly a filing device for rack of substantially unitary construction and formed entirely of relatively stiff yet somewhat resilient mate-` rial, such as metal wire, wire formed of plastics material, plastic-impregnated Fiberglas or the like.

The rack 2@ comprises a plurality of preferably equidistantly `spaced upright parallel loops or frames 21 which are preferably rectangular and preferably of equal height and width and formed from a continuous uninterrupted length of wire or the like. The section of wire which is formed to provide the several loops 2l has a first end 22 adjacent a short horizontal section 23 which is directed upwardly fat 24 and further formed as at 25 and 26 to provide the rst or endmost loop 2l, FIGURE l. rThe first loop 2l has a bottom horizontal transverse section 27 which underlies the short section 23 and is preferably rigidly secured thereto by welding or the like at 28. From this point, the continuous wire section is bent to provide a short longitudinal portion 29 directed upwardly at 3) and horizontally and transversely at 3l and downwardly vertically at 32 to form the next successive loop or frame 2l of the filing rack. The continuous wire section extends longitudinally and horizontally at 33 for a distance preferably equal to the length of the portion 29 and 'then upwardly at 34 and transversely horizontally at 35 and downwardly at 36 to form the next or third opstanding loop 21 of the rack. In like manner, as clearly shown in FIGURE l, the next two intermediate loops 2l of the device are constructed from the continuous wire section making up the body portion of the ttiling device Ztl. The continuous length of wire is nally directed longitudinally and horizontally at 37 for a dis` tance equal to the elements 29 yand 33 and then horizontally transversely at 3? and upwardly at 39 and then horizontally at ttl in the reverse direction and downwardly at 4l and then inwardly horizontally for ya short distance at 42 to complete the formation of the other endmost integral loop 21 of the rack. The short transverse section 42 is preferably welded at 43 to the top of lower transverse portion 38, the second end of the unitary wire section being shown at 44, longitudinally opposite to the first end 22. The lower horizontal portions 27, 29, 33, 37, 3S, etc. are all disposed at the same elevtation or in the same horizontal plane and the two short sections 23 and 42 are preferably directly above the underlying transverse elements 27 and 38. The several upstanding rectangular loops 2l thus formed provide storage cornpartments for files or the like between adjacent pairs thereof.

To strengthen and stabilize the bottom of the rack 2l), there is provided at one side thereof and directly inwardly of the portions 29 and 37 a straight longitudinal horizontal rod 45 which spans the entire length of the rack between the elements 27 and 38. This reinforcing rod or wire 45 is disposed at the same elevation as the sections 29 and 37 and the like intermediate section 46 :and is preferably welded thereto as at 47 and may also have its ends welded to the elements 27 and 38. If preferred, the rod l5 may be applied to the outer sides of the sections 29, 37 and 46, but the preferable arrangement is shown in FIGURE l.

In -a similar manner, a second bottom longitudinal reinforcing rod 4S is applied to the opposite side of the rack inwardly of the section 33 and the like section 49 and welded thereto at Sil and disposed at the elevation of the sections 33 and 49. The rod 48 preferably has short inwardly directed transverse ends l integral therewith arnanged adjacent the inner sides of elements 27 `and 38 and welded thereto at 52. The rod 4S may, if desired, be mounted upon the outer sides of the wire sections 31B Yand 4Q, but the preferred construction is shown in FlG- URE 1.

The ling rack constiuctedin the manner shown by FIGURE 1 may be employed to file any desired material upon a table or desk and the rack Ztl possesses wide utility in and of itself -as above-described.

Y To further enhance its utility as illustrated in FGURE 3, the rack Ztl may be placed within a le cabinet drawer 53, file storage box or the like with proper clearance beyond the sides of the rack to accommodate legal size papers or tiles. If desired, bottom opening envelope-like index partitions 54 of manila paper, sheet plastics material or the like may be removably telescoped over any or all of the opstanding loops 2l to more clearly differentiate the plurality of tiling compartments, and the elements Sfimay bear visible index or filing indicia near the tops thereof. The overall height of the rack 26 may be made such that the use of the rack Within a cabinet drawer equipped with the well-known suspension tiling means will not yinterfere with the concurrent use of such means in the drawer.

With lreference' to FEGURES 4 through 7, related modifications ofthe invention are illustrated, wherein the wire or like body portion of the rack has a base or tray member associated therewith either detachably or permanently.

With particular reference to FIGURE 4, a wire rack 5S is illustrated, which rack may be identical to the rack except that the ,bottomV reinforcing rods 45 and 43 are omitted from the construction. In view of this, it is unnecessary to repeat the detailed description of the wire rack 55 shown Vin FIGURE 4.

A prefenably sheet metal base or tray member 56, FGURES 4 Iand 5, is provided for use with the modified 'rack 55 to stabilize the same upon a desk or table or within a drawer or box as preferred. The tray member 56 has a flat horizontal rectangular base wall 57 and upstanding relatively shallow longitudinal side iianges 58 extending for itsentire length yand disposed at right angles to the base wall 57 and spaced apart a sumcient distance to accommodateV legal tiles therebetween. The tray men.- ber 56 has its base wall slotted in the manner shown in detail in FGURE 5 to facilitate assembling the tray member over the top of the wire rack 55 detachably. The several elongated transverse slots 59 shown in FIG- URE 5 are adapted to accommodate the several upstanding loops of the rack d5 when assembly takes place, and the short transverse slot portions 6@ shown in the drawings are provided to accommodate the bottom portions of the rack 55 which are formed with radii. In assembly, the intermediate bridging areas 6i, FIGURE 5, between the slot portions 6d may rest directly upon the bottom longitudinal sections 62 of the rack 55, and the bridging areas 6l may, if preferred, be struck upwardly from the plane of the base wall 57 so that the latter may rest flat upon a table orthe like after assembly over the rack 55.` if preferred, the areas 61 may remain flat and in the same plane as the oase wall 57, and it is expected in this connection that the gage of the wire utilized for the rack 55 may be .thin enough so that an entirely flat base wall 57 may be employed satisfactorily without the necessity for upwardly striking the small areas 6l. rlfhis is an optional feature of the construction as should now be apparent. lf desired, ythe assemblage of elements shown in FIGURE 4 may be rendered penmanent by merely tack welding the tray member S6 to the rack 55 at the areas 61 and other points at the bottom of Ithe rack.

In FIGURES 6 and 7, modified forms of detachable or permanent base members 63 and 64 for the rack 55 are illustrated. rThese members are plate-like yand llat, as shown, and they may be formed of Masoniteor other suitable stiff material. The base member 63 is rectangular and is of a size approximating the area ofthe base wall 57, FIGUREy 4,- without the iianges 53. The member 63 has a pair of L-shaped slots 65 formed therethrough near and inwardly of its opposite ends and relatively short longitudinal slots 66 are provided as shown near and inwardly of the longitudinal edges of .the base member. The rack 55 is applied downwardly to the base member 63, and the bottom Vportions 62, FIGURE 4, enter the slots 66, while the end and corner bottom portions of the rack 5d are received snugly in assembly within the l.shaped slot 66. The mentioned portions of the Vrack 55' preferably have :a snug or pressed iit within the several slots 65 and 66 of base member 63 and the bottom of the rack 55 may be :assembled ush with the bottom face of the member 63. If preferred, the member 63 may be thin sheet metal similar to tray member S6 and the portions 62, etc. of rack 55 may be tack welded within the slots of the metal base member. It is contemplated, however, in the pre erred arrangement that the Masonite or like base member 63 be detachably connected with the wire or like rack 55.

In FIGURE 7, the modiiied smaller base member 64 of Masonite or the like is Vnotched at 67 in its longitudinal edges and recessed on one side as at 68 and provided with a pair of rounded corners 69. The same rack 55 is applied downwardly over the base member 64 and the elements 62 are received within the notches 67 and the recesses 63, and the rounded corners 69 and transverse edges itl of the base member 64 receive the endmost bottom transverse portions of the rack closely adjacent thereto, the bottom of the rack being flush in assembly with the bottom face of the member 64. The parts are preferably readily detachable but may be permanently assembled as above explained if desired. The base member 64, FIG- URE 7, does not `provide a tray portion projecting beyond the connes of the rack 55. v

In FIGURE 8, a further modification of the invention is illustrated, wherein a rack 55 ispermanently assembled by welding or the like to a base or tray member 56. The base member 56 may be identical to the base member 56 except that the slots shown in FIGURE 5 are all omitted. The rack 55 may be identical to the rack 55, FlGURE 4, except that'end upstanding lifting handlesl are formed integral with the rack 55 by extending the short end portions '72 shown in FIGURE 4 and shaping the continuous Wire to provide the handles 7l integral therewith. The handles 71 are preferably upwardly divergent somewhat from the end loops 73 of the rack 55 to facilitate lifting the device. |The rack 55 may be welded to the base member 56 as at 74 and like points. The arrangement shown in FlGURE 8 provides a permanently assembled tiling rack of inexpensive and rela-V tively lightweight construction for use upon a desk or within a storage box or cabinet drawer, and the rack may accommodate letter-size and/or legal-size tiles and has lianges 75 to prevent endwise displacement of the tiles.

In FIGURE Se, there is shown a slight modification of the device illustrated in FIGURE 8, wherein the handles '71 are formed from separate wire sections and attached to the ends of the rack 55 by welding or the like at 76. All other parts are identical to the construction shown in FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 9 shows a still further modification of the tiling device or rack, including a Wire rack body portion 77 formed from a continuous section of wire in the manner clearly illustrated. The continuous wire for the body portion 77 has ends '78 and 79; the wire section is ex* tended longitudinally at 8d from the end 78 to'form a bottom horizontal reinforcing rod which rod is directed upwardly at 3l to provide a first loop or frame 82 of the base Y atrae/19 wire rack 77. The subsequent loops 83, 84, 85, 86, 87 and 88 are successively formed from the continuous wire section in substantially the same manner above-described for prior forms of the invention, and the opposite endmost loop 88 has its lower end extended longitudinally at 89 to provide a second bottom horizontal reinforcing rod for the wire rack, FIGURE 9. The lower longitudinal connecting portions 90 of the several loops 82-88 are secured by welding or the like at 91 to the rods 80 and 891and lying in the same plane as these rods.

The several loops 82458, FIGURE 9, are each preferably successively wider between `the rods 80 and 89 to facilitate nesting the rack body portions 77 during shipment or storage. However, if preferred, the loops 82-88 may all be the same size and the feature of nestability is optional.

There is preferably provided in FIGURE 9 a stabilizing and strengthening skeleton base 92 formed of thin sheet metal or the like and including end transverse strips 93 and integral longitudinal strips 94 as shown. The opposite ends of the strips 93 are rolled or clipped over the rods 80 and 89 to complete the assembly as indicated at 9S. The base 92 may be detached from the rack body portion 77 by merely exing the lower longitudinal sides of the rack body portion inwardly to separate the same from the clips 95 which are channel-like in construction `and inwardly opening. If preferred, the clips 95 may be permanently clinched about the rods 30 and 89 to provide a permanent assembly. The rack shown in FIGURE 9 may serve as a desk rack for files or may be used advantageously within a storage box or tile cabinet drawer.

FIGURE shows a slight modification of the rack body portion 77 in FIGURE 9, where opposite ends of the same are provided with outwardly offset upstanding U-Shaped lifting handles 96, formed of separate sections of wire and preferably welded to the rack body portion 77 as at 97. The base 92 has been omitted in FIGURE 10 for the purpose of simplification of illustration.

FIGURE 1l shows a slight modification of the lifting handles, wherein the inverted U-shaped handle 98 is spaced outwardly from the endmost loop 82 of rack body portion 77 by bottom spacer extensions 99, Welded to the rack body portion -at 100.

FIGURE 12 and FIGURE 13 show a further handle modification wherein the separately formed handle 101, FIGURE 12, has upstanding end extensions 102, detachably engageable within sleeve sockets 103 disposed vertically and welded to the upstanding sides of the endmost loops or frames of the Wire rack body portion 77.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit o f the invention or `the scope of the subjoined claim.

CFI.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A rack having a body portion formed from a single piece of wire, said wire having a first end and extending longitudinally therefrom to form a first elongated reinforcing rod on the body portion at the bottom and at one side thereof, said wire having a second end on the opposite side of the body portion and diagonally opposite the first end, said wire extending longitudinally from the second end to form a second elongated reinforcing rod on the body portion at the bottom and other side thereof approximately parallel to yand coextensive lengthwise with said first reinforcing rod, said wire being directed vertically upwardly from diagonally opposite ends of the reinforcing rods and then transversely horizontally across the body portion in opposite directions and downwardly vertically to form on the body portion an end pair of inverted U-shaped loops, each loop having one leg integral with one of said reinforcing rods, short longitudinal bottom connecting portions on the other legs of the end pair of loops extending in opposite directions longitudinally and disposed at the inner side of the lirst and second reinforcing rods and welded thereto near diagonally opposite corners of the body portion, a plurality of intermediate inverted U-shaped loops and integral bottom longitudinal connecting portions formed from said wire between said end pair of loops, all of said connecting portions welded to said reinforcing rods at the inner sides thereof, said connecting portions on one side of the rack staggered longitudinally from the connecting portions on the other side thereof, and a sheet material base member for the rack body portion lying substantially in a common plane with said reinforcing rods and connecting portions, said base member including transverse end strips having their ends terminating in rolled clips, said clips embracing said reinforcing rods immediately inwardly of said end pair of loops. 1

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 386,674 7/88 wens 211-11 451,729 5/91 Dom 211- 11 1,360,192 11/20 Davidson 211-41 1,621,465 s/27 Hammes 211-11 X 2,642,861 6/53 Tvedt 129-16 2,885,085 5/59 Chamerlin 211- 10 3,032,203 5/62 Romero 211-41 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,175,211 11/58 France.

L. WILLIAM VARNER, Primary Examiner. JEROME SCHNALL, Examiner. 

